Groups renew lobby vs tobacco products
Two groups called for a phaseout of tobacco products, including cigarettes and electronic smoking devices (ESDs), emphasizing its impact on the environment besides public health.
In a joint press release on Sunday, a day before World Health Day, toxics watchdog EcoWaste Coalition and Action on Smoking and Health-Philippines (ASH Philippines) pointed out the difficulty in collecting and recycling the waste left behind by tobacco products.
“The only solution to tobacco and related product waste is upstream, meaning keep them from being produced, marketed and used in the first place,” said ASH Philippines executive director Dr. Maricar Limpin.
According to EcoWaste and ASH Philippines, there is “no reasonable method” that can be used to collect waste products such as discarded cigarette butts and ESDs.
ESDs include e-cigarettes, vapes, or other similar electronic devices that may contain tobacco, nicotine, e-liquids or derivatives of cannabis.
“More importantly, they are full of carcinogens and toxins. Any product they are made into will also be full of carcinogens and toxins, not to mention the danger to those working in recycling facilities,” the groups added.
ASH Philippines and EcoWaste Coalition called on smokers and vapers to quit and for nonsmokers not to start smoking.
DOH denies donations
Meanwhile, the DOH has maintained it did not receive any donations from antihealth industries
“The DOH continues to refuse and reject all proposed donations by the tobacco industry, whether to its officials or the agency or its units,” the health agency said in a statement over the weekend.
“We are saddened that some may have fallen victim to industry tactics of divide and conquer,” it added.
Health advocacy groups earlier slammed Health Secretary Teodoro Herbosa and called for his resignation for posing for a photo with executives from a tobacco company.
They pointed out his presence in ceremonies for the donation of four mobile clinics donated by Philip Morris Fortune Tobacco Corp. Inc. and the Lucio Tan Group Inc. to the Department of Social Welfare and Development in Malacañang on March 20 was illegal and unethical. —WITH A REPORT FROM DEXTER CABALZA
